The study was published by Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center with Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital, Richard J. Solove Research Institute and College of Public Health. It is the first study that has provided evidence to show that smoking in combination with vaping increases the risk for cancer compared to smoking alone. The research has been published in the Journal of Oncology Research and Therapy.
Randall Harris, corresponding author and professor of epidemiology at the College of Public Health, commented, “Our findings provide the first evidence that smoking in combination with vaping significantly increases the risk of lung cancer compared to smoking alone.
“Most people know that tobacco smoke contains cancer-causing chemicals but, overall, there is less knowledge about the chemicals that are inhaled through vape vapours”.
The study
Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer death in the UK. Cancer Research UK statistics show it accounted for 21 per cent of all cancer deaths in 2017-2019. Its statistics also show that 72 per cent of cases are caused by smoking.
For the case-control study, researchers analysed cigarette smoking and the use of electronic cigarettes (also known as vaping) in 4,975 people with lung cancer, compared to a control group of 27,294 people without cancer.
All study subjects were from the same general geographic location (treated in Columbus, Ohio) and had the same distribution of age, gender and race.
The results
Researchers found that vaping combined with cigarette smoking was eight times more common in people with lung cancer, compared to the control group of people without lung cancer.
In addition, the data showed that the risk of developing lung cancer was four times higher among people who combined vaping and smoking compared to those who only smoked.
Researchers have said it is critical that regulators consider these additional health exposures in their regulation of the tobacco product industry to further protect public health, particularly when it comes to inhaled flavourings and nicotine dose concentrations.
Marisa Bittoni, a researcher in the medical oncology division at the College of Medicine, said, “From a public health perspective, we have always been concerned about dual-use of both traditional and e-cig products. This study presents clear evidence showing that vaping in addition to smoking can increase your risk for lung cancer. This is especially concerning given the rate of youth and young adults using these products.
“More research about the health effects of alternative tobacco products is critically needed to put science behind the regulation of the tobacco industry.”
References available on request.